| Acknowledgements | 第5-6页 |
| Abstract | 第6-7页 |
| 摘要 | 第8-15页 |
| List of Abbreviations | 第15-16页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第16-21页 |
| 1.1 Introduction | 第16页 |
| 1.2 Research background | 第16-18页 |
| 1.3 Aims of the study | 第18页 |
| 1.4 Significance of the research | 第18-19页 |
| 1.5 Organization of the thesis | 第19-21页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第21-32页 |
| 2.1 Introduction | 第21页 |
| 2.2 Definitions of research | 第21-22页 |
| 2.3 Classifications of research in applied linguistics | 第22-24页 |
| 2.4 Studies on conceptions of research abroad | 第24-29页 |
| 2.4.1 Studies on academics’ conceptions of research | 第24-25页 |
| 2.4.2 Studies on students’ and supervisors’ conceptions of research | 第25-28页 |
| 2.4.3 Studies on English language teachers’ conceptions of research | 第28-29页 |
| 2.5 Previous studies at home | 第29-30页 |
| 2.6 Differences between the present study and the previous ones | 第30-32页 |
| Chapter Three Methodology | 第32-38页 |
| 3.1 Introduction | 第32页 |
| 3.2 Subjects | 第32-33页 |
| 3.3 Instruments | 第33-36页 |
| 3.3.1 Questionnaire | 第33-34页 |
| 3.3.2 Reliability of the questionnaire | 第34-35页 |
| 3.3.3 Interview | 第35-36页 |
| 3.4 Data collection and analysis | 第36-37页 |
| 3.5 Summary | 第37-38页 |
| Chapter Four Results and Discussions | 第38-62页 |
| 4.1 Introduction | 第38页 |
| 4.2 English major postgraduate students’ general conceptions of research | 第38-47页 |
| 4.2.1 Students’ assessments of Scenario 1 | 第40-42页 |
| 4.2.2 Students’ assessments of Scenario 2 | 第42页 |
| 4.2.3 Students’ assessments of Scenario 3 | 第42-44页 |
| 4.2.4 Students’ assessments of Scenario 4 | 第44页 |
| 4.2.5 Students’ assessments of Scenario 5 | 第44-45页 |
| 4.2.6 Students’ explanations for their scenarios’ assessments | 第45-47页 |
| 4.3 English major postgraduate students’ conceptions of characteristics of good quality research | 第47-51页 |
| 4.4 English major postgraduate students’ motivations towards doing research | 第51-54页 |
| 4.5 Difficulties that English major postgraduate students confronted in doing research | 第54-56页 |
| 4.6 Discussions | 第56-60页 |
| 4.6.1 English major postgraduate students’ general conceptions of research and their views on characteristics of good quality research | 第57-59页 |
| 4.6.2 English major postgraduate students’ motivations towards doing research | 第59-60页 |
| 4.6.3 Difficulties and challenges that English major postgraduate students confronted in conducting research | 第60页 |
| 4.7 Summary | 第60-62页 |
| Chapter Five Conclusion | 第62-68页 |
| 5.1 Introduction | 第62页 |
| 5.2 Main findings of the present study | 第62-64页 |
| 5.3 Implications for postgraduate education | 第64-65页 |
| 5.4 Limitations of the present study | 第65-66页 |
| 5.5 Suggestions for future research | 第66-68页 |
| References | 第68-72页 |
| Appendix A | 第72-76页 |
| Appendix B | 第76-77页 |
| Publications | 第77页 |
